Jan as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Jan

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The baby name Jan is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced {'English': '/dʒæn/', 'Dutch/Polish/Czech/Scandinavian/German': "/jan/ (pronounced like 'yahn')"}.

Jan is Czech, English, Hebrew, Polish, Scandinavian in Origin.

Gender: Male

Syllables: 1.0

Origin: Czech, English, Hebrew, Polish, Scandinavian

Pronunciation: {'English': '/dʒæn/', 'Dutch/Polish/Czech/Scandinavian/German': "/jan/ (pronounced like 'yahn')"}

What is the meaning of the name Jan ?

The baby name Jan is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced {'English': '/dʒæn/', 'Dutch/Polish/Czech/Scandinavian/German': "/jan/ (pronounced like 'yahn')"}.

Jan is Czech, English, Hebrew, Polish, Scandinavian in Origin.

Jan is a pan-European form of the name John, ultimately from Hebrew Yohanan via Greek Iōannēs and Latin Iohannes, meaning "God is gracious." It serves primarily as a masculine given name in Dutch, German, Czech, Polish, Slovene, and Scandinavian contexts (pronounced roughly "yahn"), while in English it can be a feminine short form of Janet or Janice.

The name has been in steady use across Europe since the Middle Ages, borne by figures such as Jan Hus, the Czech reformer; Jan van Eyck, the Flemish painter; and Polish king Jan III Sobieski. In Dutch, Jan is so common it functions as a stand-in for the everyman ("Jan Modaal"). Related and cognate forms include John, Johan, Johannes, Jean, Ian, Sean, Shane, Juan, João, Giovanni, Ioan, Ivan, János; and diminutives/variants Janek, Janusz, Janko, Jani, Janine, Janis, and Janette. All carry the core sense of divine favor.

Jan has the following similar or variant Names

Jan Peter Balkenende Politician · Born 1956 · Kingdom of the Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende is best known for serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2002 to 2010. A Dutch jurist and politician from the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), he was born on 7 May 1956 and is formally named Jan Pieter Balkenende Jr.	Jan Žižka Politician · Born 1360 · Kingdom of Bohemia Jan Žižka was a famous Czech military leader best known for leading the radical Hussite forces, especially the Taborites, during the Hussite Wars. A knight and follower of Jan Hus, he became one of the most prominent commanders in medieval Bohemian history.	Ján Kollár Politician · Born 1793 · Austrian Empire Ján Kollár was a Slovak writer and poet who played a significant role in the Slovak national revival during the 19th century. He is best known for his work 'Slávy Dcera', which is a collection of poems that express his vision of Slavic unity and cultural identity.
Jan Fischer Politician · Born 1951 · Czech Republic Jan Fischer may refer to more than one person with this name.	Jan Evangelista Purkyně Politician · Born 1787 · Austria–Hungary Jan Evangelista Purkyně was a Czech anatomist and physiologist best known for helping lay the foundations of cell biology and for coining the term "protoplasma" in 1839 for the fluid substance inside a cell. He was also an important early researcher in physiology and anatomy.	Jan Christiaan Smuts Politician · Born 1870 · Union of South Africa Jan Christiaan Smuts was a prominent South African statesman and military leader, best known for his role in the formation of the Union of South Africa and his contributions to the League of Nations. He served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa and played a significant role during both World Wars. Smuts was also a key figure in the drafting of the United Nations Charter.

Jan Masaryk

Politician · Born 1886 · Austria–Hungary

Jan Masaryk was best known as Czechoslovakia’s foreign minister during World War II and the years just after, serving from 1940 to 1948. He was a prominent Czech diplomat and politician, and journalist John Gunther described him as "a brave, honest, turbulent, and impulsive man."

Jan Svěrák

Actor · Born 1965 · Czech Republic

Jan Svěrák is a Czech film director and screenwriter best known for the Oscar-winning film Kolya. He also directed Dark Blue World and Elementary School, and has often collaborated with his father, screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák.

Jan Axel Blomberg

Musician · Born 1969 · Norway

Jan Axel Blomberg, known by his stage name Hellhammer, is a Norwegian musician best known as the drummer for the black metal band Mayhem. He has been a key figure in the black metal scene, contributing to albums like 'De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas' and 'Grand Declaration of War.' His powerful drumming style has influenced many in the genre.

Jan Smit

Actor · Born 1985 · Kingdom of the Netherlands

Jan Smit may refer to multiple people, but the best-known is Jan Smit, the Dutch singer and television presenter. He is especially famous for songs such as “Als de morgen is gekomen,” “Laura,” and “Je Naam in de Sterren.”

Jan Decleir

Actor · Born 1946 · Belgium

Jan Decleir is best known as a celebrated Belgian film and stage actor. Born in Niel, Antwerp, on 14 February 1946, he built a prolific career with notable roles in films such as Daens, Character, and The Memory of a Killer.

Jan Werich

Actor · Born 1905 · Austria–Hungary

Jan Werich was a Czech actor, playwright, and writer best known as one half of the influential Voskovec and Werich duo. He co-wrote and performed in works like Caesar, Ballad from a Ragshop, and The Emperor's Baker and the Baker's Emperor.

Jan Hooks

Actor · Born 1957 · United States

Jan Hooks was an American actress and comedian best known for her work on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1991. She was especially remembered for her sharp impressions and sketch comedy performances on the long-running NBC show.

Jan Fabre

Actor · Born 1958 · Belgium

Jan Fabre is best known as a Belgian artist and theater maker, with major work in visual art, performance, and literature. Born on 14 December 1958, he has spent nearly four decades building an influential career, with notable works including The Hour Blue, Je suis sang, and Troubleyn.

Jan Jindra

Athlete · Born 1932 · Czech Republic

Jan Jindra was a Czech rower best known for representing Czechoslovakia at three Olympic Games: 1952, 1956, and 1960. Born in Třeboň, he competed at the highest level of international rowing during a long Olympic career.

Jan Tříska

Actor · Born 1936 · United States

Jan Tříska was a celebrated Czech actor best known for his extensive work in theater, film, and television, with more than 160 roles over his career. He appeared in well-known films like Ronin, Apt Pupil, and The People vs. Larry Flynt, and after emigrating to the United States in the 1970s, he later returned to the Czech Republic following the Velvet Revolution.

Jan Kounen

Actor · Born 1964 · France

Jan Kounen is a Dutch-born French film director and producer, best known in France for films like Dobermann, Blueberry, l'experience secrete, and 99 Francs. Born on 2 May 1964 as Jan Coenen, he built his reputation with visually distinctive, edgy movies.

Jan Kiepura

Actor · Born 1902 · United States

Jan Kiepura was a Polish opera singer and actor best known for his internationally successful tenor career. He performed at many of the world’s top opera houses, including La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, and the Royal Opera House.

Jan Hřebejk

Actor · Born 1967 · Czech Republic

Jan Hřebejk is a Czech film director and actor best known for films that explore Czech history, family life, and moral questions. He is especially known for movies like Divided We Fall, Cosy Dens, and Kawasaki's Rose.

Jan Řehula

Athlete · Born 1973 · Czech Republic

Jan Řehula is a Czech triathlete best known for competing in the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Born on 15 November 1973, he represented the Czech Republic in the sport.

Jan Nowicki

Actor · Born 1939 · Poland

Jan Nowicki was a well-known Polish actor, best remembered for films like The Great Szu, Spiral, and Colonel Wolodyjowski. He was born on 5 November 1939 and died on 7 December 2022.

Jan Peerce

Musician · Born 1904 · United States

Jan Peerce was an American operatic tenor best known for his powerful performances at the Metropolitan Opera. He also appeared on Broadway and in concert, and is especially associated with roles in Rigoletto, La traviata, and Tosca.

Jan Marek

Athlete · Born 1979 · Czech Republic

Jan Marek most commonly refers to people with that name, including the Czech ice hockey player best known for his career in the Kontinental Hockey League. It may also refer to other notable individuals named Jan Marek.

Jan Kovář

Athlete · Born 1990 · Czech Republic

Jan Kovář is best known as a Czech professional ice hockey forward. Born on 20 March 1990, he currently serves as captain of EV Zug in Switzerland’s National League and is the younger brother of fellow hockey player Jakub Kovář.

Jan Englert

Actor · Born 1943 · Poland

Jan Englert is a Polish actor known for his work in both film and theater. He gained fame for his roles in films like 'Katyn' and 'The Promised Land'. Englert has also been a prominent figure in Polish theater, contributing significantly to its development.

Name	Last Name(s)	Mother	Mother famous for	Fame Level	Father	Father famous for	Fame Level
Jan	Bergman				Ingmar Bergman	film director	★★★★★

Jan – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country	Gender	Year	Rank	Born	of
Ireland	Boys	2025	#1	—	836
Germany	Boys	2025	#1	—	423
Ireland	Girls	1997	#1	—	601
NL		0	#1	1,997	2,481
NL	Boys	0	#1	49,254	5,873
CZ	Boys	0	#3	25,616	6,530
CZ		0	#4	1,803	3,154
IR		0	#4	1,799	4,221
IR	Boys	0	#7	26,062	10,162
NL	Boys	2014	#8	340	79
AF		0	#8	113	1,883
DK	Boys	0	#12	3,134	7,401
SI	Boys	0	#13	554	3,402
FJ	Boys	0	#17	1	603
NA		0	#18	16	2,537
SI		0	#18	92	1,612
MV		0	#19	1	644
HT	Girls	0	#23	1	950
PL	Boys	0	#23	13,825	6,459
Germany	Boys	0	#25	19,170	5,697
Germany		0	#26	1,432	2,542
AF	Girls	0	#27	89	2,402
BN		0	#29	4	2,297
AF	Boys	0	#30	563	3,535
MV	Girls	0	#30	6	2,021
DK		0	#32	349	5,198
EE		0	#34	4	1,051
TM	Boys	0	#35	2	614
MT		0	#41	3	1,767
ZA		0	#44	635	14,421
MO		0	#46	7	2,706
ZA	Boys	0	#48	9,723	25,619
PR		0	#50	6	1,497
Switzerland	Boys	2024	#57	91	1,769
PH		0	#57	40	5,607
LU		0	#58	9	2,830
Austria	Boys	2019	#59	150	60
CY		0	#59	2	1,632
EE	Boys	0	#68	70	2,087
IN		0	#69	3	2,963
MV	Boys	0	#72	8	3,375
JP		0	#74	4	4,057
PL		0	#75	351	2,600
CN		0	#76	10	3,857
LT	Boys	0	#77	107	2,166
BG		0	#78	5	1,799
MD	Boys	0	#79	3	756
QA		0	#81	20	7,011
RS		0	#82	3	923
LT		0	#83	6	949
HR	Boys	0	#84	517	3,997
Finland	Boys	0	#87	1,263	2,041
Austria	Boys	0	#88	1,147	2,180
NA	Boys	0	#88	170	6,830
JM		0	#89	5	3,714
Finland	Boys	2026	#90	6,976	3,552
KZ		0	#92	3	1,452
PR	Boys	0	#94	97	2,508
TW		0	#99	5	4,523
Norway	Boys	2025	#101	36	444
ID	Girls	0	#102	1	3,319
IQ		0	#105	25	3,533
OM		0	#105	12	6,215
BN	Girls	0	#106	9	5,459
GE	Girls	0	#108	1	1,564
GE	Boys	0	#110	1	2,055
BN	Boys	0	#111	23	6,332
ID	Boys	0	#111	21	4,130
HU		0	#115	1	1,675
KW		0	#117	5	5,216
CY	Girls	0	#119	7	3,755
CY	Boys	0	#120	10	3,473
EC		0	#120	2	2,502
BD		0	#125	104	5,992
RS	Boys	0	#127	28	2,277
KZ	Boys	0	#128	231	6,578
MT	Boys	0	#130	48	4,064
PA		0	#131	8	3,797
PH	Boys	0	#131	348	11,440
GR		0	#132	4	3,911
LU	Boys	0	#136	83	4,970
BW	Boys	0	#137	13	4,685
JO		0	#138	3	2,158
EE	Girls	0	#142	1	1,888
Austria		0	#144	72	850
AE		0	#145	33	10,220
CR		0	#145	14	5,526
BW	Girls	0	#147	5	4,216
MT	Girls	0	#147	7	3,773
HU	Boys	0	#155	20	3,954
HR		0	#158	22	2,081
Sweden	Boys	2022	#160	23	1,509
PR	Girls	0	#165	3	3,171
Belgium	Boys	2024	#168	21	401
Finland		0	#169	166	830
OM	Girls	0	#170	244	15,987
SI	Girls	0	#172	6	2,769
AE	Girls	0	#174	461	20,968
BD	Girls	0	#176	247	8,413
UY		0	#178	5	2,477
RU		0	#186	9	3,641
IQ	Girls	0	#187	448	11,303
AR		0	#190	4	2,915
KZ	Girls	0	#190	161	5,862
MO	Boys	0	#190	34	5,842
AE	Boys	0	#193	2,332	22,615
SA	Boys	0	#194	6,579	28,008
SG		0	#194	76	11,010
BG	Boys	0	#196	24	3,850
SA	Girls	0	#199	1,241	25,931
IQ	Boys	0	#200	940	13,071
LT	Girls	0	#200	1	1,904
PL	Girls	0	#204	219	5,096
MO	Girls	0	#207	45	7,056
TW	Boys	0	#213	29	7,111
AO	Girls	0	#217	1	4,575
PS		0	#220	7	5,692
HU	Girls	0	#225	1	3,308
QA	Girls	0	#226	91	15,378
BG	Girls	0	#227	5	3,559
CZ	Girls	0	#229	119	5,378
NA	Girls	0	#235	3	7,146
EC	Boys	0	#240	7	3,322
GR	Boys	0	#243	25	6,912
JM	Girls	0	#243	17	7,507
JP	Girls	0	#243	9	6,592
PH	Girls	0	#245	148	13,098
PT		0	#245	6	4,161
GH		0	#246	3	5,396
HK		0	#246	105	8,483
GR	Girls	0	#247	3	6,293
AO	Boys	0	#248	2	5,568
TW	Girls	0	#248	29	8,139
CN	Boys	0	#251	71	9,639
EC	Girls	0	#257	2	3,650
SA		0	#258	38	10,560
IL		0	#261	14	6,291
JP	Boys	0	#261	37	7,909
SY		0	#265	869	11,684
BH		0	#266	321	17,937
HK	Boys	0	#272	352	12,905
NG		0	#272	1	5,926
AL	Boys	0	#274	25	5,122
MY		0	#276	55	12,352
Spain	Boys	0	#277	1,469	5,610
JO	Girls	0	#280	46	7,570
JM	Boys	0	#285	9	6,876
SG	Girls	0	#285	343	18,916
HR	Girls	0	#288	7	3,687
Canada	Boys	2024	#293	14	2,588
PE		0	#294	17	6,350
Canada	Girls	2008	#299	5	2,834
DK	Girls	0	#303	14	7,429
GT		0	#305	10	5,948
CN	Girls	0	#306	44	8,829
RU	Boys	0	#320	199	12,621
OM	Boys	0	#321	836	17,948
PT	Boys	0	#321	47	7,951
BD	Boys	0	#330	295	10,045
GH	Girls	0	#330	8	6,973
BR		0	#335	11	5,969
MU	Girls	0	#335	17	8,539
SD	Girls	0	#335	11	7,678
MU	Boys	0	#338	20	8,477
HK	Girls	0	#341	320	16,104
JO	Boys	0	#348	30	7,057
PA	Boys	0	#348	138	9,305
EG		0	#350	51	6,387
MY	Boys	0	#356	1,210	25,439
GH	Boys	0	#359	3	8,138
QA	Boys	0	#360	387	18,093
YE		0	#360	22	8,639
MX		0	#363	51	8,339
Spain		0	#365	88	2,326
BO		0	#372	10	6,868
Finland	Girls	0	#373	19	1,368
KW	Girls	0	#377	139	19,177
France	Boys	2021	#378	10	2,865
IR	Girls	0	#383	151	8,334
UY	Boys	0	#387	13	5,922
CL		0	#389	23	6,867
SD	Boys	0	#390	56	10,523
Austria	Girls	0	#403	18	1,885
KW	Boys	0	#413	389	18,755
NL	Girls	0	#417	719	5,933
EG	Boys	0	#418	677	15,035
CR	Boys	0	#428	60	10,188
PT	Girls	0	#434	18	7,952
SG	Boys	0	#435	271	17,960
CL	Boys	0	#441	247	13,390
AR	Boys	0	#443	25	7,628
PS	Boys	0	#444	105	10,655
CR	Girls	0	#445	88	11,342
GT	Boys	0	#448	27	7,625
CO		0	#449	32	7,768
RU	Girls	0	#458	41	11,913
IL	Boys	0	#463	147	10,983
PA	Girls	0	#471	11	9,861
LY		0	#481	55	12,703
CO	Boys	0	#487	575	15,656
PS	Girls	0	#503	21	10,981
LB		0	#508	151	13,263
MX	Boys	0	#526	595	16,355
CM	Boys	0	#532	19	12,054
UY	Girls	0	#534	3	6,731
GT	Girls	0	#539	3	7,500
IN	Girls	0	#542	90	13,121
BO	Boys	0	#552	41	9,244
CM	Girls	0	#556	5	11,671
PE	Boys	0	#558	376	14,506
IT	Boys	0	#565	1,483	10,046
BR	Boys	0	#569	188	12,213
AR	Girls	0	#588	12	8,289
BO	Girls	0	#593	19	9,488
IL	Girls	0	#600	18	11,648
IT		0	#610	105	4,183
MY	Girls	0	#634	383	24,821
TR		0	#644	1,000	19,440
Germany	Girls	0	#648	194	4,949
Finland	Girls	2026	#732	7	3,895
NG	Girls	0	#753	34	15,093
MX	Girls	0	#755	510	17,781
TN		0	#755	75	13,765
IN	Boys	0	#806	197	16,750
United States	Boys	2024	#828	65	7,044
CL	Girls	0	#830	22	14,098
EG	Girls	0	#831	129	14,742
MA		0	#843	290	20,986
Spain	Girls	0	#856	128	5,561
ZA	Girls	0	#865	280	25,928
BR	Girls	0	#884	58	12,708
NG	Boys	0	#898	54	16,906
United States	Girls	2021	#916	5	8,741
PE	Girls	0	#918	26	14,861
CO	Girls	0	#1,031	48	16,140
DZ		0	#1,031	146	20,130
IT	Girls	0	#1,320	127	9,415

Jan is popular in 93 countries — most recent births per country:

France

Norway

Scotland, United Kingdom

Ireland

Canada

Germany

Belgium

Flanders, Belgium

Austria

Switzerland

Sweden

United States

Wallonia, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium